Commission’s proposed riding split unfair to growing town

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This letter is in response to your article titled, ‘Milton should have its own electoral district: resident'.

The article mentions the current proposal by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario shows a significant rural portion and two urban residential neighbourhoods in Burlington included in the district proposed to be called Milton. This information is now outdated as the commission recently revised its proposal to split Milton.

The current proposal removes the proposed ‘Milton riding’ and instead puts the southern half of Milton with the ‘Burlington North’ riding and the northern half with the ‘Halton Hills’ riding, leaving Milton with no representative of its own.

Both Burlington and Oakville are proposed to get their own ridings plus a third shared riding between the two.

The current plan divides Milton arbitrarily, leaving some parts of urban Milton with Halton Hills while other parts of urban Milton with Burlington.

The Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act of 1985 requires the commission to consider the “community of interest or the community of identity” in determining electoral districts. Splitting Milton in such an arbitrary fashion, I believe, would violate that basic principle.

Residents of Milton identify with Milton, not with Halton Hills or Burlington.

Considering Milton’s continued population growth and its unique identity and character, I believe it’s critical that Milton is kept intact in its own electoral district.

Simple math indicates that’s a very reasonable ask.

Halton is to receive five electoral districts and Milton represents more than a fifth of Halton’s population.

It’s a matter of fairness then that Milton should receive a fifth of representation as well, which translates to an electoral district.

I urge residents to send their feedback to the commission by emailing it at ontario@rfed-rcf.ca or by calling 1-855-747-7224.

In addition, I would also encourage residents to attend the public information session taking place Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn & Suites, 2525 Wyecroft Rd. in Oakville.